how long should we wait

[chickie momma di]

hi everyone
just curious our buff orph has been sitting on eggies. today is day 23 and nothing yet. how long should we wait until we encourage her to give up. can't figure what could have happened. she has a nice set up although 1/2 way through the process our naughty roo (who has since gone to auction) got up in her nest one time and broke and egg but we could never find anything but a couple of discolored shavings. just knew an egg was missing one day.

 

[rancher hicks]

I would think if a roo had devoured the egg there would have been more than "discolored" shavings. I have a roo who ate a couple of eggs but not in the nest box. It's a long story. When chickens eat eggs there is definite signs, left over shell and a residual mess.

I thing something else got the egg I don't know what though. I do know from my situation that a chipmunk can take an egg and leave no sign. I'm sure other critters can too.

What I would do in your situation is wait til night and then candle the eggs, if she'll let you.

I've had hens hatch chicks on sucessive days. If your hen laid the first egg and other hens laid the others these could be days apart. Especially if she's in w/ other hens. This is why it's important to seperate her as soon as you realize she's gone broody or at the very least restrict other hens from laying in the same nest box.

You must let us know what you find out.

All the best

Rancher

 

[chickie momma di]

great news

we have babies!!!!

5 so far the 1st one was born on the 1st day of spring. uppon some investigation we've discovered that there are now 5 babies and get this at least 10 more eggies.

yes we should have seperated her but we just didn't have the room. we'll tweek the set up for next time.

we'll just have to watch and see what happens. the babies seem healthy and happy. they are already runnin arround and in and out from her feathers.

 

[rancher hicks]

Having had the experience I am excited for you. As much as it's nice to hatch in an incu watching a momma hen and her babies is something else. Congratulations.

gotta have pics. It's only fair.

 

[chickie momma di]

i'll try my best for pics. will need help from my friend cause i'm not so good with teck stuff. we are now up to 7 w/moore hatching! she has sat for 1 extra week before and was still fine. so we'll give her the week and then take the other eggies i guess. don't want to endanger her health at all. she's a great momma. and chubbs is being a great daddy. he saved a chick by crowing constantly (which he never does) so when i went to see what all the comotion was about i found a chickie on the coop floor. everything was fine though so i had hubby enclose them so there would be no more problems.